Steiner backs Piastri to bounce back from championship defeat
Guenther Steiner believes Oscar Piastri has the talent to become Formula 1 world champion, despite the Australian's painful defeat in the 2025 title fight. Steiner emphasized that with the right car and timing, Piastri can bounce back from the experience, which he views as a valuable lesson for the young driver's future.
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has expressed strong confidence in Oscar Piastri's ability to recover from missing out on the 2025 Formula 1 world championship, stating he has no doubt the Australian driver has the talent to win a title in the future.
Why it matters:
Piastri's 2025 season was a story of immense promise and ultimate heartbreak. After leading the championship for a significant portion of the year, he finished third, behind even Max Verstappen, while his teammate Lando Norris clinched the title. Steiner's public backing from an experienced figure in the paddock highlights that Piastri's performance, despite the painful ending, solidified his status as a top-tier talent capable of leading a championship charge.
The details:
- Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner emphasized that Piastri's ultimate success hinges on having "the right car at the right time," but he is unequivocal about the driver's innate ability.
- Steiner pointed out that the 2025 campaign was only Piastri's third full season in Formula 1, making his sustained title challenge a remarkable achievement in itself.
- The season served as a brutal but invaluable lesson for Piastri, exposing him to the intense, sustained pressure of a title fight—a level far beyond what is experienced in junior categories.
- His position in the championship battle was earned through a significant performance leap from 2024, where he was consistently outperformed by teammate Norris over the season.
Looking ahead:
Steiner's analysis suggests that the experience gained in 2025 could be the foundation for future success. He implied that if Piastri finds himself in a similar competitive position again, he would be better equipped to convert it into a championship. The key for Piastri and McLaren will be to harness the lessons from this defeat, maintain his development trajectory, and ensure the team provides a car capable of sustaining a title challenge from start to finish.